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Who was Pericles and what was he known for

Author

Matthew Martinez

Updated on April 14, 2026

Pericles, (born c. 495 bce, Athens—died 429, Athens), Athenian statesman largely responsible for the full development, in the later 5th century bce, of both the Athenian democracy and the Athenian empire

What did Pericles do that made him famous?

Pericles is perhaps most famous for his great building projects. He wanted to establish Athens as the leader of the Greek world and wanted to build an acropolis that represented the city’s glory. He rebuilt many temples on the acropolis that were destroyed by the Persians.

What was the most important accomplishment of Pericles?

Pericles’s most important accomplishment was making Athens a more democratic city-state by appointing people to positions based on their skill and abilities instead of their social class.

How did Pericles impact the world?

Pericles transformed his city’s alliances into an empire and graced its Acropolis with the famous Parthenon. His policies and strategies also set the stage for the devastating Peloponnesian War, which would embroil all Greece in the decades following his death.

What were the 3 major goals of Pericles?

that this period often is called the Age of Pericles. He had three goals: (1) to strengthen Athenian democracy, (2) to hold and strengthen the empire, and (3) to glorify Athens.

Was Pericles a good leader?

Pericles was an astute leader and a commander. … His words and speeches depicted him as an authoritative leader. As a courageous and respected General, Pericles summoned the assembly of the city to instill into them some sense of courage and to rejuvenate their fighting spirit and to push fresh for a war with Sparta.

What was Solon known for?

560 BC) was an Athenian statesman, lawmaker and poet. He is remembered particularly for his efforts to legislate against political, economic and moral decline in archaic Athens. His reforms failed in the short term, yet he is often credited with having laid the foundations for Athenian democracy.

What does Pericles mean in world history?

Pericles (l. 495–429 BCE) was a prominent Greek statesman, orator, and general during the Golden Age of Athens. … Pericles’ name means “surrounded by glory” and he would live up to his name through his efforts to make Athens the greatest of the Greek city-states.

What are 4 things that Pericles did built that caused Greece's Golden Age?

Pericles lifted Athens into a golden age through his support of the arts, architecture, philosophy, and democracy building. Pericles (left) and Pheidias consult about creation of statue of Athena in this painting.

What type of government was Pericles describing?

The type of government that Pericles was describing was a democracy. In his funeral oration he stated that “A men may serve his country no matter how low his position on the social scale” (Document 3). In Athens, every free citizen had an equal opportunity to advance and to serve their country.

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What is Pericles trying to say in his speech?

In his speech, Pericles states that the citizens of Athens must continue to support the war. He wanted to emphasis that what they were fighting for was of the upmost importance. He stated that the soldiers who died gave their lives to protect the city of Athens, its citizens, and its freedom.

How did Pericles strengthen the empire?

Pericles strengthened democracy in Athens by paying public officials. Pericles expanded the empire by building a strong naval fleet. Pericles rebuilt and beautified Athens.

Did Pericles invent democracy?

Pericles was not the founder or inventor of democracy, but he came to its leadership only a half-century after its invention, when it was still fragile.

What did the Parthenon do?

The Parthenon was the center of religious life in the powerful Greek City-State of Athens, the head of the Delian League. Built in the 5 century B.C., it was a symbol of the power, wealth and elevated culture of Athens. It was the largest and most lavish temple the Greek mainland had ever seen.

What was Socrates known for?

Socrates was a scholar, teacher and philosopher born in ancient Greece. His Socratic method laid the groundwork for Western systems of logic and philosophy.

Who were three important Greek philosophers?

The Socratic philosophers in ancient Greece were Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. These are some of the most well-known of all Greek philosophers.

What is Sophocles famous?

What is Sophocles known for? Sophocles was one of the three great Greek tragedians. Of his eight plays (seven full, one fragmented) that remain today, his most famous is Oedipus the King (Oedipus Rex), which is known for its impressive construction and use of dramatic devices.

What was Solon's legacy?

Solon, the Athenian politician and lawmaker: Solon (638-558 BC) was an Athenian politician, lawmaker and poet. He is considered as the first innovative lawmaker that set the ground for the creation of democracy, the governmental system that made Athens powerful and granted the city its fame all over the centuries.

Who told Solon about Atlantis?

Plato’s Critias says he heard the story of Atlantis from his grandfather, who had heard it from the Athenian statesman Solon (300 years before Plato’s time), who had learned it from an Egyptian priest, who said it had happened 9,000 years before that.

Why was Pericles nickname the Olympian?

The Greeks – Pericles. Nicknamed ‘The Olympian’ because of his aloof manner, Pericles brought a new authority and stability to Athenian politics. … Pericles’ was by now far too popular for his rivals to topple him as the city’s leader. So instead, they attacked his close associates in the courts.

Why was Pericles called the first citizen?

Pericles opted to play the role of a model for the people of Athens. He was too focused on protecting his privacy, and that is why he chose not to be rendered a public leader by then. Much of his operations were in his capacity as a regular citizen other than a civic leader.

Why the age of Pericles is called as the golden age of Greek history discuss?

This era is also referred to as the “Age of Pericles” after the Athenian statesman who directed the affairs of Athens when she was at the height of her glory. During this period of time significant advances were made in a number of fields including government, art, philosophy, drama and literature.

Was Pericles a real person?

Pericles, (born c. 495 bce, Athens—died 429, Athens), Athenian statesman largely responsible for the full development, in the later 5th century bce, of both the Athenian democracy and the Athenian empire, making Athens the political and cultural focus of Greece.

Who led the Persian War?

Darius I, King of Persia, decided he wanted to conquer the Greeks in 490 BC. He gathered a vast army of soldiers that outnumbered any army the Greeks could muster. They boarded the Persian fleet and headed to Greece.

Who was Pericles wife?

PericlesSpouse(s)Aspasia of MiletusChildrenParalus and Xanthippus Pericles the YoungerRelationsXanthippus (father) Agriste (mother)

Who was Hippocrates and what was he promising to do?

Hippocrates of KosDiedc. 370 BC Larissa, Ancient GreeceOccupationPhysicianEraClassical GreeceTitleThe Father of Western Medicine

How did Pericles define democracy?

Pericles describes Athenian democracy as a system of government where men advance on merit rather than on class or wealth. In a democracy, “class considerations [are not] allowed to interfere with merit” – any man capable enough to rule is allowed to do so.

What does the discus thrower represent?

This statue has become famous as an emblem of the ancient Greeks. It shows an athlete naked, refined and eternally youthful seemingly captured in the moment before releasing the discus.

Why is Pericles giving this speech?

This famous speech was given by the Athenian leader Pericles after the first battles of the Peloponnesian war. Funerals after such battles were public rituals and Pericles used the occasion to make a classic statement of the value of democracy.

What are the main points of Pericles funeral oration?

The most important thing to remember about the Funeral Oration is that it is a speech, intended to persuade its listeners. Pericles praises Athens so that people will keep fighting; he praises the sacrifices of the dead so that others will imitate them.

How is slavery believed to have started in Greece?

Q: How did people become slaves in ancient Greece? People became slaves in ancient Greece after they were captured in wars. They were then sold to their owners. Other slaves were, by nature, born into slave families.